Kristin Ormsbee, a sophomore at Olivet College, has seen cancer touch her family in too many ways. Her grandmother and aunt are both cancer survivors and her mother is currently battling her own cancer scare. It is because of the strong women in her life that she stepped forward to help lead Olivet College’s fight against the disease.
Ormsbee served on the committee of the Olivet College mini-Relay for Life and helped organize one of the most successful mini-Relays March 25 that Olivet College has put on to date.
This year’s event featured 13 teams, up from nine teams a year ago, said Cassie Puskala, American Cancer Society partner. Funds raised from the Olivet College Relay go towards the final total for the Relay for Life of Charlotte. Puskala said there has been a loose relationship between the Charlotte and Olivet College events for a number of years, though Olivet College’s really stands on its own.
“This has always been their event,” Puskala said. “We’ve got more people here than we’ve ever had; they’re engaged and they’re having fun.”
Ormsbee said she was encouraged to see so many of her fellow students come out to support the fight against cancer.
“It means everything,” she said. “It’s amazing to see people out here who are so dedicated and who have been touched by cancer in some way and they are out here trying to make a difference at a college level where not every college student thinks of that.”
Relay for Life of Charlotte will take place Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visit www.relayforlife.org/charlottemi for more information or to form your own team.
Olivet College mini-Relay continues to grow, raise awareness
